[Wattleigh]

Viva Center / Former HP / Compaq Campus

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/...enx-lease.html

Former HPE, Compaq campus in northwest Houston is now Viva Center, signs tenant

About two years after changing owners, the 2.3 million-square-foot former Compaq and Hewlett Packard Enterprise campus in northwest Houston has a new name, new purpose and new tenants.

The 94-acre complex at 11445 Compaq Center West Drive, off state Highway 249 south of Louetta Road, is now called Viva Center.

The owner, Houston-based Morales Capital Group, signed a 10-year headquarters lease with hormone treatment and weight loss company SynergenX in October, and the company expanded its space to a total of 54,247 square feet in January.

Morales Capital Group is headed by Eduardo Morales, who is also the CEO of alcoholic beverage distribution company Mexcor International and several other entities under the Morales Capital Group umbrella. It is headquartered at 11177 Compaq Center West Drive, which is part of Viva Center. The 250,000-square-foot building also serves as a distribution center for Mexcor.

The group envisions turning the campus into a mixed-use tech hub with public gathering areas, events and apartments.

The redevelopment is led by VivaVerse Solutions, also a subsidiary of Morales Capital Group. VivaVerse is leasing an eight-story, 461,000-square-foot building on the campus.

Morales co-founded the company with Dallas-based tech entrepreneur Freddy Vaca, who serves as its president and chief technology officer.

The property includes four office buildings, four manufacturing/distribution buildings, additional buildings that house maintenance and/or amenity space, a full-service cafeteria, fitness center, and an outdoor covered pavilion with a kitchen area for events. Between the property's six garages and its surface lots, there are more than 6,000 parking spaces. Hike and bike trails connect to the adjacent 80-acre Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve.

Interest is strong for the manufacturing buildings, said SVN J. Beard Real Estate Greater Houston’ Brandi Sikes, who together with Liz Westcott oversees leasing of the campus.

“Revitalizing an '80s vintage campus takes vision, and the entrepreneurs who bought it are supporting that vision,” Sikes said. “So they have given us the endorsement to go out and identify the types of users who we want to attract to this region.”

Besides technology companies, the vision includes a sports complex for members of the community, urban farming and educational institutions, she said.

Some of the existing buildings could also be converted into apartments, workforce housing, assisted living or a hotel.